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Not long ago, India’s first domestically-produced aircraft carrier "Vikrant" conducted its first mooring experiment at the Cochin Naval Shipyard, marking a big step forward from sea trials and service. While the Indian Navy was making high-profile publicity, it also took the opportunity to publicize its own future plan: to build the strongest "super aircraft carrier" in Asia.
According to a report by the Times of India on December 4, the Global Network quoted the Indian Navy’s Chief of Staff and Admiral Karambi Singh in an interview with the media. The Indian Navy is reorganizing the seminar. , In order to promote the construction of the second domestically-made aircraft carrier "Vishal". According to Admiral Karambi, although the previous construction of the Vishal aircraft carrier has been temporarily shelved, considering the recent world situation, it has proved that India must have three aircraft carriers to ensure that the Indian Navy has two ready for deployment. The aircraft carrier of China can deal with the "maritime military threats" on both sides at the same time.
(Admiral Karambi Singh)
It is reported that the "Vishal" will be the largest and strongest aircraft carrier ever built in India, with a displacement of up to 65,000 tons and adopting the most advanced aircraft carrier in the world. All-electric integrated propulsion system. However, Karambi said that the Indian Navy is considering changing the ship to nuclear power, with a displacement of more than 70,000 tons, equipped with at least one electromagnetic catapult, and its overall performance will surpass the US’s existing "Nimitz" class aircraft carrier. Comparing with the latest USS "Ford", it has become the most powerful aircraft carrier in Asia.
(one of the Vishal imagines)
However, some experts pointed out that although the ambition of the Indian Navy is not small, its capabilities are still insufficient. First of all, the Indian Navy does not have sufficiently advanced carrier-based aircraft. Even if it purchases the US-made "Super Hornet" carrier-based aircraft, it will be difficult to counter the future fifth-generation carrier-based aircraft. In addition, India does not have its own domestically-made carrier-based early warning aircraft, and the carrier-based early warning aircraft is almost equivalent to the "combat power multiplier" of the aircraft carrier. India, which is lagging behind in this field, will undoubtedly suffer a lot. In addition, India’s marine nuclear reactor technology is immature. As early as 2015, India had envisaged building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, but because it could not build a reliable 550 MW nuclear reactor, it had to switch to an all-electric propulsion system.
But the biggest challenge facing the Indian Navy is not technology, but the Indian Army. In recent years, India has changed its previous development strategy of "from sea to land" and has cut naval expenditures by as much as 12% for many years. All the money saved was used to buy tanks and missiles for the Indian Army. In addition, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defense of India, Rawat, who was born in the army, is also a typical "anti-aircraft carrier camp." He insisted that it is completely useless for the Indian Navy to purchase aircraft carriers. , Instead of wasting money on the bottomless pit of the "Indian Ocean Strategy." It can be seen from
that, in this case, even if the Indian Navy intends to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, technical and financial constraints and internal conflicts in the military will make this process difficult. On the other hand, next door, the construction of its aircraft carrier is quite smooth, and the selection of the next-generation carrier aircraft has also been put on the agenda. Facing this biggest challenge, the Indian Navy can be said to be under tremendous pressure. At present, the Indian Navy plans to complete the construction of the Vishal by 2030, but as far as the current situation is concerned, it is already commendable that this aircraft carrier can be in service before 2040.
